VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(34)

“Guys,” I say to the kids, who are preparing to barge into the apartment. “Your mom is probably sleeping, so let’s be really quiet, okay?”

“Okay, Mr. Flynn,” Maddie says solemnly.

We help them out of their snow clothes and boots outside the door. “One other thing I want you to do for me.”

“What?” Logan asks.

“I want you to go in your rooms and pick up all your toys and put them away. Then you need to make your beds and gather up your dirty clothes. Can you do that?”

“If we hafta,” Logan says glumly.

“Let’s see who can get their rooms picked up the fastest.” The contest sparks some interest in them, and they scurry into their rooms.

“You’re going to be an awesome father,” Natalie says.

“Funny, I was thinking the same about you earlier.” I kiss her nose. “An awesome mom.”

“That’s going to be fun,” she says, smiling at me.

“I can’t wait.”

“Really?”

“To see you round with our baby?” The thought of it does weird things to my heart and stomach. “I. Can’t. Wait.”

She wraps her arm around my neck and kisses me. “Love you,” she whispers.

“Love you, too.”

“I’m going to clean up the kitchen.”

“I’ll check on the kids and then take on the living room.”

“This is way, way above and beyond the call of husbandly duty.”

I lean in close so my lips are touching her ear. “You can reward me later.”

I leave her with that thought and go to pick up the toys, pillows, blankets and newspapers that are strewn about Aileen’s living room.





While I tend to the mountain of dirty dishes in Aileen’s sink, I think about how great Flynn was with Logan and Maddie. From pulling them on a sled to supervising the building of a snowman, to engaging in a snowball fight, he was incredible with them, and they loved every minute of the attention he showered them with.

I’m not sure what the deal is with their dad, just that he’s not in the picture.

When I finish in the kitchen, I go to find Flynn, who’s stretched out on the floor of Logan’s room with both kids pinning him down.

“Natalie, help! I’ve been taken hostage!”

The kids giggle madly as he tries to tickle his way out of the bind they have him in.

Aileen joins me at the doorway, smiling at the sound of her children’s laughter. “That’s a very nice thing to hear.”

“We had the best time,” I tell her.

“Apparently, they did, too.” She takes a closer look at Logan’s room. “Did you clean his room?”

“Nope, he did.”

“How did you pull off that particular miracle?”

“Flynn gets all the credit. He made it a brother-sister race to see who could clean their rooms the fastest.”

“Wow. He’s good.”

“I think so, too. Are you feeling better?”

“So much better. I can’t thank you enough for this today.”

“Believe me when I say it was our pleasure. We had a blast playing in the snow with the kids.”

“Logan, go easy,” Aileen says. “God forbid we damage that priceless face.”

“That’s right,” Flynn says. “It’s insured for millions.”

I roll my eyes and share a laugh with Aileen. As we prepare to head out a short time later, Flynn lets her know help is on the way.

“You’ve already done more than enough,” she says in protest, referring to the half-million dollars he donated to the fundraiser for their family at school.

He puts his hands on her shoulders and kisses her forehead. “Let us help. There’s no need for you to try to do this alone. You have friends who care, and if we lived here full time, we could come by every day and check on you guys. But since we don’t, this is the next best thing, okay?”

“Are you ever able to say no to him?” she asks me.

“Rarely,” I reply with a saucy wink that makes them both laugh.

“Thank you,” she says, gesturing to the spotless apartment and the two kids on the sofa, quietly watching a movie. “I’ll never forget this, and neither will they.”

“We had a great time.” I hug her, and the feel of her sharp bones under my hands unsettles me as I lean down to gather up Fluff. “Call you tomorrow, okay?”